Electric U or H toothbrush

ABSTRACT

The electric U or H toothbrush is for the daily use of cleaning teeth. Its toothbrush head is in U or H shape. Inside the U or H shape toothbrush head, there are rotators driven by an electric motor. Brushes extend from these rotators inward facing the top, front and back of teeth. During tooth brushing, the user turn on a switch, the electric U or H Toothbrush cleans all surfaces of the teeth at same time, which makes it very efficient. It minimizes the hard to reach areas on the back of teeth, which makes it more effective on tooth cleaning. Elastic materials are used to allow the toothbrush head deforming to fit with teeth of different sizes. Humps are designed inside the toothbrush head to control the deformation. A toothbrush handle is designed that it can rotate with respect to the toothbrush head for convenient use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The electric U or H toothbrush is an electric version of the U shapetoothbrush applied for patent Ser. No. 12/554,880 by the author in Sep.5, 2009 and H shape toothbrush applied for patent Ser. No. 12/701,585 bythe author in Feb. 7, 2010.

The electric U or H toothbrush incorporated an electric motor into thetoothbrush handle. The electric motor drives the rotators inside theelectric U or H toothbrush heads through a reciprocating mechanism. Therotators make fast reciprocating rotations and the brushes extendingfrom the surface of the rotator clean the top, front and back of theteeth at the same time. The electric U or H toothbrush cleans the teethwith high efficiency and effectiveness. It is a useful tool formaintaining the dental health.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The electric U or H toothbrush is an intended improvement over the Ushape toothbrush and H shape toothbrush. All the objectives forinventing the U shape toothbrush and H shape toothbrush are still validfor the electric U or H toothbrush. With the help of electric motor anddriving system, the electric U or H toothbrush will be even moreefficient and effective in cleaning teeth. The objectives for inventingthe electric U or H toothbrush are similar to those for inventing the Ushape toothbrush and H shape toothbrush.

The first objective of the present invention is to provide a toothbrushthat can minimize the hard to reach areas especially on the back of theteeth for the ordinary toothbrush and ordinary electric toothbrush tomake the tooth brushing most effective.

The second objective of the present invention is to provide a toothbrushthat can clean the top, front and back of teeth at same time, or evenclean the teeth on both top and bottom jaw at same time. With the fastreciprocating rotational motions to brush the teeth, the electric U andH toothbrush makes the tooth brushing most efficient.

The third objective of the present invention is to provide an electrictoothbrush that can follow the tooth profile and automatically adjustitself to fit teeth of different sizes.

The fourth objective of the present invention is to provide an electrictoothbrush that uses a U or H shape toothbrush head moving along teethlike a train moving along its rail track to make the tooth brushing funand enjoyable.

The fifth objective of the present invention is to provide an electrictoothbrush that uses a toothbrush handle that can rotate with respect tothe toothbrush head to allow the U or H shape toothbrush head moving allthe way along teeth from one end to the other end continuously andsmoothly to make the tooth brushing more convenient.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-8 are used to describe the invention. Those Figures are simple,straightforward and self-explanatory. References to those FIGs arelisted here as the description of the invention.

-   1. The electric U or H toothbrush comprises a U or H shape    toothbrush head and a toothbrush handle as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4.-   2. FIGS. 1 and 2 show that toothbrush handle 1 is assembled onto U    shape toothbrush head 8 which allows the toothbrush handle 1 to    rotate with respect to the U shape toothbrush head 8.-   3. FIGS. 3 and 4 show that toothbrush handle is assembled onto H    shape toothbrush head which allows the toothbrush handle to rotate    with respect to the H shape toothbrush head. The portion of the    toothbrush handle with batteries and electric motor inside is    similar to that of electric U toothbrush shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.    Hence, that portion of the toothbrush handle is not showing on FIGS.    3 and 4.-   4. Inside a U shape toothbrush head, there are 3 rotators driven by    an electric motor inside the toothbrush handle through a    reciprocating mechanism as shown in FIG. 2.-   5. The H shape toothbrush head comprises 2 U shape toothbrush heads,    one U shape head facing upward and another one facing downward.    Therefore, inside a H shape toothbrush head, there are 6 rotators    driven by an electric motor inside the toothbrush handle through a    reciprocating mechanism as shown in FIG. 4.-   6. Because the H shape toothbrush head can be looked as 2 U shape    toothbrush heads working together, the description here will focus    on the U shape toothbrush head. The working principle described for    the U shape toothbrush head also applies to the H shape toothbrush    head.-   7. The different views of the toothbrush handle are shown in FIGS.    2, 5 and 6. The motions of the electric U toothbrush are illustrated    in FIG. 8.-   8. When the switch 2 shown on FIGS. 2 and 5 is turned on, the    electric motor 16 receives electric power from batteries 17 and    rotates. The electric motor 16 drives a pair of gears 15 and 14 to    change the direction of rotation. Through 15 and 14, the gear pair,    the rotation speed is reduced and the output torque is increased.-   9. A linkage 13 links the miter gear 14 and the rack 12. The    rotational motion of miter gear 14 is converted to the linear    reciprocating motion of the rack 12. Inside the toothbrush handle,    guides 21 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 are designed in 2 locations to    restrain the rack 12 moving in straight line.-   10. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the rack 12 is used to drive the gear    19. This design achieves 2 purposes. The first purpose is to convert    the linear reciprocating motion of rack 12 to the rotational    reciprocating motions of the gear 19. The second purpose is to allow    the toothbrush handle rotate with respect to the U or H shape    toothbrush heads while converting the motion.-   11. Gear 19 drives the rotator 6 through shaft 18.-   12. Linkage bars 7 extend from both sides of rotator 6 drive linkage    bars 9 inserted into other 2 rotators. The rings on the end of    linkage bars 7 and 9 to link the linkage bars 7 and 9 together to    transfer the rotational reciprocating motion of rotator 6 to the    other 2 rotators. Hence, the 3 rotators inside the U toothbrush head    rotate together in rotational reciprocating motions.-   13. The linkage bars 7 are fixed inside the rotator 6 and move with    the rotator 6 together. The linkage bars 9 are inserted into the    other 2 rotators. As shown in FIG. 8, the linkage bars 9 are not    fixed inside the other 2 rotators. Some degree of relative motions    are allowed for the linkage bars 9 to the other 2 rotators, so that    the linkage bars 9 can transfer the rotational reciprocating motion    to the other 2 rotators smoothly.-   14. The brushes extended from the surface of these 3 rotators facing    the top, front and back of the teeth. They clean the top, front and    back of the teeth through fast rotational reciprocating motions.-   15. In a U shape toothbrush head; there are 6 pins (pin 10) as shown    in FIGS. 1 and 2. Those pins are used to retain the rotators in    their positions inside the U shape toothbrush head while allow them    to rotate.-   16. It is necessary for the U or H shape toothbrush head to have    elasticity so that they can deform to fit the size of different    teeth. The entire U or H shape toothbrush head can be made from    elastic materials as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 for the elasticity. Or,    part of the U shape toothbrush head can be made from elastic    materials as shown in FIG. 7.-   17. Humps 11 on FIG. 1 are designed on the inner surfaces of the U    or H shape toothbrush heads. The humps are used to control the    deformation of the U or H shape toothbrush heads to fit the size of    different teeth. When the U or H shape toothbrush head moves to    small teeth, the humps can not touch the teeth and the U or H shape    toothbrush head contracts under its own elasticity. When the U or H    shape toothbrush head moves to large teeth, the humps will touch the    teeth and force the U or H shape toothbrush head to expand. In this    way, it helps the brushes touch the teeth with similar pressure    whether it cleans small teeth or large teeth.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-8 show the electric U or H toothbrush of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows the side View of the electric U toothbrush.

FIG. 2 shows the cross section view of the electric U toothbrush.

Note: In FIGS. 1 and 2, it is too long to show the entire toothbrushhandle in one piece. The toothbrush handle is shown in 2 pieces.

FIG. 3 shows the side View of the electric H toothbrush.

FIG. 4 shows the cross section view of the electric H toothbrush.

Note: In FIGS. 3 and 4, it is too long to show the entire toothbrushhandle. Only one part of the toothbrush handle is shown in FIGS. 3 and4. The other part of the toothbrush handle with batteries and electricmotor inside is similar to that in the FIGS. 1 and 2. To save the space,it is not shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 5 shows the top view of the toothbrush handle for the electric U orH toothbrush.

Note: In FIG. 5, it shows the top view of the toothbrush handle with thetop cover opened and it shows the cross section view for the cap of thebattery compartment.

FIG. 6 shows the front cross section view of the electric U toothbrush.

FIG. 7 shows the electric U toothbrush head using mixing of elastic andnon-elastic materials.

FIG. 8 illustrates the motions of the electric U toothbrush.

REFERENCE CHARACTERS IN THE DRAWINGS

-   1 refers to the top cover of the toothbrush handle-   2 refers to the power switch-   3 refers to the cap of the battery compartment-   4 refers to the bottom cover of the toothbrush handle-   5 refers to the flange that connects the toothbrush handle to the    toothbrush head-   Note: For the electric U toothbrush, it uses only one flange 5. For    the electric H toothbrush, it uses two flanges 5.-   6 refers to the rotator with brushes extending form its surface to    face the top of teeth-   Note: For the electric U toothbrush, it has other two rotators with    brushes extending form their surfaces to face the front and back of    teeth. For the electric H toothbrush, it has two rotators 6 with    brushes extending form its surface to face the top of teeth on both    the top and bottom jaws. It also has four other rotators with    brushes extending form their surfaces to face the front and back of    teeth on both the top and bottom jaws.-   7 refers to the linkage bars extending from rotator 6-   8 refers to the U toothbrush head-   9 refers to the linkage bars inserted into the other two rotators-   10 refers to the pins for restraining the rotators in their position-   11 refers to the humps for control the deformation of the toothbrush    head-   12 refers to the rack that makes linear reciprocating motion-   13 refers to the linkage that converts the rotation of miter gear 14    to the linear reciprocating motion of rack 12-   14 refers to the miter gear-   15 refers to the gear on the electric motor output shaft-   16 refers to the electric motor-   17 refers to the batteries-   18 refers to the shaft to transfer rotational reciprocating motion    from gear 19 to the rotator 6-   19 refers to the gear to convert the linear reciprocating motion of    rack 12 to the rotational reciprocating motion-   20 refers to the shafts for the rotators with brushes facing the    front and back of teeth-   21 refers to guides in 2 locations to restrain the rack 12 moving in    straight line-   22 refers to the elastic materials on the toothbrush head using    mixing of elastic and non-elastic materials-   23 refers to the non-elastic materials on the toothbrush head using    mixing of elastic and non-elastic materials

1. The electric U or H toothbrush comprising: a U or H shape toothbrushhead with a rotational toothbrush handle the toothbrush handle isassembled onto the U or H shape toothbrush head through a toothbrushhandle assembly, which allows the toothbrush handle to rotate withrespect to the U or H shape toothbrush head, the H shape toothbrush headcomprises 2 U shape toothbrush heads, one U shape head facing upward andanother one facing downward, the rotational toothbrush handle isassembled onto the H shape toothbrush head between the 2 U shapetoothbrush heads,
 2. The electric U or H toothbrush of claim 1, whereinsaid inside a U shape toothbrush head, there are 3 rotators driven by anelectric motor inside the toothbrush handle through a reciprocatingmechanism. Brushes extend from these rotators inward facing the top,front and back of teeth.
 3. The electric U or H toothbrush of claim 1,wherein said the U or H shape toothbrush head or part of the U or Hshape toothbrush head is made from elastic materials so that they candeform to fit the size of different teeth.
 4. The electric U or Htoothbrush of claim 1, wherein said on the inner surface of the U or Hshape toothbrush head, humps are designed to control the deformation ofthe U or H shape toothbrush head to fit the size of different teeth andkeep the brushes touch the teeth at similar pressure despite the sizedifference of teeth.
 5. The electric U or H toothbrush of claim 1,wherein said the toothbrush handle can rotate with respect to the U or Hshape toothbrush head for convenient use.